Wildflower Month still blooming in DeWitt County

By
Sonny Long
March 29, 2011 at 10:03 p.m.Updated March 28, 2011 at 10:29 p.m.

The DeWitt County Wildflower Association won't let fewer volunteers keep it from conducting its annual wildflower month in April.

"We are still in existence and trying to do as much as our active members are able to do," said Myrna Hassfield, in her fourth year as association president.

Although the group's dues-paying membership has remained steady - about 100 - the number of core members who can do the work related to Wildflower Month has dwindled to fewer than a dozen, Hassfield said.

April is Wildflower Month in DeWitt County, designated by the state Legislature as the Wildflower Capital of Texas, and traditionally a number of activities have been associated with the observance.

Two activities that will be missing this year are the guided bus tours of wildflower locations in the county and the live wildflower specimen exhibit at the DeWitt County Historical Museum.

"You would not believe how labor intensive the live specimen exhibit is," Hassfield said. "We just don't have the people able to go to the fields and pick them."

Hassfield said the group continues to have a small contingent of workers to maintain the garden at the county museum.

Another tradition taking a hit is the sale of cascarones. In the past, association members had made about 200 dozen to sell as a fundraiser during the month. This year, only about 30 dozen will be available.

"In place of the cascarones as our major fundraiser, we are raffling off a beautiful wildflower-themed quilt and pillows," Hassfield said.

Despite the changes, there are plenty of Wildflower Month related activities going on.

Color-coded maps for self-guided tours of the best wildflower spots are available at the Cuero Chamber of Commerce, 124 E. Church St., and the county museum, 312 E. Broadway St.

Association members also will give slide-show programs to civic and church groups. Instead of a live specimen exhibit at the county museum, the DeWitt County Shutterbugs Camera Club will display some of the wildflower photographs entered in its annual contest at the DeWitt County Historical Museum, the Cuero Heritage Museum and the Cuero Municipal Library.

School groups also are being scheduled to tour the county museum during Wildflower Month.

In addition, the 12th annual Wellness Center Wildflower 5K will be Saturday starting at the city park.

The annual Anchor Club of Cuero Wildflower Bike Ride with a choice of five routes also starts at the city park on April 9.

"People are still interested in looking at and enjoying our wildflowers," Hassfield said. "We've circled our wagons and are doing the things we can do."